On October 25-27, 2022, the World Movement for Democracy will hold its 11th Global Assembly in Taipei, Taiwan, to strengthen solidarity among democracy advocates around the world in their efforts to build a free world. Some 300 democracy activists, experts, policymakers, and donors from 70 countries will discuss how to counter today’s authoritarian challenges and help foster democratic momentum. The Global Assembly will be the largest international conference on democracy hosted by Taiwan since the pandemic.
The Global Assembly will feature speakers such as Nobel Peace Prize laureate and Chair of the World Movement for Democracy’s Steering Committee Maria Ressa and The Atlantic’s Anne Applebaum, who will focus on how to fight for democracy and strengthen a fact-based media ecosystem.
Taiwan’s Digital Minister Audrey Tang will also participate in the event, highlighting Taiwan’s democratic resilience and innovation against authoritarian challenges, while underscoring its readiness to build and lead stronger unity among democracies around the world.
Recognizing Taiwan and Ukraine as two major frontlines of the struggle for democracy today, the Global Assembly will facilitate learning between Taiwanese and Ukrainian democracy advocates, along with others from around the world, to combat disinformation and misinformation, strengthen self-organizing skills, and rally a global alliance.
The opening dinner will feature a conversation between Taiwan’s Foreign Minister Joseph Wu and Ukraine’s Parliamentary Foreign Policy Committee Chair Oleksandr Merezhko, to be co-moderated by the National Endowment for Democracy’s President and CEO Damon Wilson and Maria Ressa.
The Global Assembly culminates with the presentation of the World Movement’s Democracy Courage Tributes, which honor movements that demonstrate extraordinary courage in their work to advance freedom and human rights, but often remain outside the spotlight. This year’s recipients of the Democracy Courage Tributes include:
- Young North Korean Defectors: Growing the Flame of the North Korean Human Rights Movement
- Sudanese Resistance Committees: Working Across Communities to Claim Democratic Space
- Women-led Human Rights Movement in Afghanistan
To organize the 11th Global Assembly, the World Movement is partnering with the Taiwan Foundation for Democracy, Garden of Hope Foundation, Taiwan Tongzi (LGBTQ+) Hotline Association, Information Operations Research Group (IORG) and Taiwan Youth Association for Democracy.
The World Movement for Democracy, launched in 1999, is a global network of democrats who cooperate in the promotion of democracy. The Washington, DC-based National Endowment for Democracy serves as the World Movement Secretariat. For more information, visit the World Movement Assembly website.
